Loaf or Death (Sweets and Secrets Cozy Mysteries Book 2) by A.R. Winters

Author:A.R. Winters [Winters, A.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-10-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

“Remember all of that stuff I said about what a great friend you are?” I muttered under my breath as the hostess motioned for me to follow her through the restaurant.

After a twenty-minute drive to the neighboring town and squeezing my feet into high heels that Cleo had bullied me into wearing, I wasn’t feeling the love anymore.

“Yeah?” Cleo grinned.

“I totally take it back.” I started following the lady—who had turned to wait with an impatient look on her face—and then called back over my shoulder, “We aren’t friends anymore, Cleo. Seriously…”

I was pretty sure I could hear her laughing as I was led away. Pretty sure Watson never would have done something like this to Sherlock.

Also pretty sure Sherlock would have had the good sense to avoid speed dating at all costs.

The restaurant was packed with singles, probably thirty of us wandering around with name tags and frightened, slightly confused expressions on our faces. To make matters worse, Cleo was way back on the other side of the dining room. I thought we had agreed to do this together. I thought we’d at least be sitting at neighboring tables.

It felt like we were barely even in the same zip code by the time I got to my table.

“Right over here, ma’am,” the hostess flashed me a fake smile as she motioned for me to sit down at a tiny round bistro table that was too tall and barely big enough to accommodate two grown adults.

“I think there’s been a mistake,” I began, but she simply kept her smiling as she breezed through the rules.

“Rule number one is to have fun.” How did she manage to smile and still sound so bored at the same time? “Try not to be nervous. Everyone else is here for the same thing you are—to get past those pesky first dates and break the ice with a few like-minded singles. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even find love.”

Who knew it was possible for her to smile all the way through that dreadful speech?

“Got it,” I said, taking a deep breath and wishing Cleo and I had spent our time waiting at the bar in the back of the restaurant rather than the lobby with all the other clueless singles. “What’s rule number two?”

“Rule number two is that one of you has to get up and leave when the bell rings.” Her smile slipped for just a moment, letting me know this was a Very Important Rule. “No exceptions. The goal is to meet as many interesting people as possible in the time you’re given. The rules have to be followed to keep it fun and exciting for everyone involved.”

Yeah, it sounded like a blast already. Maybe for our second dates, we could all go get a group discount on root canals.

“And rule number three?” I was almost scared to ask.

She shook her head. “That’s it. Just the two rules. Just be yourself and have fun, but don’t forget to—”

“To listen for the bell,” I finished for her.

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